Forget diamonds and dinner reservations.
Jennifer Urbanek of West Deer believes sweet confections are the best Valentine treats.
She’s doling them out via the Little Free Library outside her coffee and tea shop on McKrell Road.
“I think it’s fun to be able to walk up to the box and get a little treat,” said Urbanek, owner of The Hungry Cupcake in the township’s Russellton section.
Red and pink frosted sugar cookies, along with Rice Krispies treats, will be stocked in the blue book bin through Tuesday.
A Butler native, Urbanek spent 15 years teaching art in a studio that now houses her coffee shop.
The perfect mix of caffeine and pop culture, every item in the store is themed after a movie, book or TV show.
February’s coffee of the month is “I love you, I know,” a cherry-chocolate-infused bean named with a nod to “Star Wars” fans. The passage is from a scene in “The Empire Strikes Back.”
Other items in the shop include mugs emblazoned with a cheeky phrase from the “Lord of the Rings” series: “I love you like a hobbit loves a second breakfast.”
Urbanek’s passion for art amplifies her shop’s designs, which she said customers appear to get a good laugh from.
“There’s really nothing like it around,” she said.
Her intention is to open a sit-down cafe but plans have been stalled, first by covid and then by the permitting process.
In the meantime, she always knew that once the retail store opened, she would supply a little library in order to add some whimsy and enjoyment for locals.
She stocks the box full-time with children’s books, thanks to Sonya Dembowski from the Poppin’ Tags Free Store nearby.
“I’m fortunate that I can go over to the Free Store and restock it as many times as I need to,” she said. “It’s fun for the kids, and I watch people all the time walking up to it. With the holidays, I just like to throw some treats in there, too.”
